Apparatus for marine well drilling



y 8, 1952 w. J. TRAVERS, JR

APPARATUS FOR MARINE WELL DRILLING 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed June 27, 1947 Ni Q INVENTOR Mm mm NM N mm N ATTORN EYS.

July 8, 1952 w. J. TRAVERS, JR

APPARATUS FOR MARINE WELL DRILLING 2 Sl-IEETSSHEET 2 Filed June 27. 1947 INVENTOR. j 4.

6 ATTORNEYS.

5 kmmm MW. k I I 1 nfl ml h l l {'11 l Q Q I lhkl L mm Q w Q Q 6 km N6 m mm O \N Q N o E N mm kw ww v time;

i atented July 8, 1952 signor to Richfie ld; Oil CorporatiomfLos An vgeles, Calif corporation .of elawar f i" j j Application June 27 This invention relates to apparatus-for drilling awell under abody oiiwaterzand is particularly directed to a deviceadapted'for the drilling' of oil wells in; ofieshore' marine. locations: .1

my prior application; Serial No.; 730,33-'I, filed February 24, 1947, now Patent No.52,472,8.69," I. have shown and describeda device for sup-s porting one: .or. morev .well .drilling rigs for commercial exploitation of oilfields known to exist under. bodies .of water. .The initial;installation.- of sucha drilling ;.island;entails a considerable expenditure .of moneypand it is highly desirable therefore .-to have. substantial; assurance :that oil wi1l.:be found in.:a :quantitysufficient. to justify thisaoutlay for." such -a large scale program.v y i Accordingly, it is .anxobject .of Z'th'e. present vention to provide drilling apparatus for proving territory below afbodyiiof water prior torthe drilling bf production wells. The present. ine. ventio'n' contemplatesthe use of .portableli equip-- ment which imay be .floated to position-elm a barge and; then set. upright onibottomz; .Well drilling. machinery carriedgionsuch; device is then't usedsto drill r3111 .exploratorytwell. into; the g I I oiL-sands believed to exist gatjthatylocationxa It is, contemplated that suchrfar well= will .;not1;b.e brought intoproduction but;-that=.the information acquired during the drilling will be or importance in laterfexploiting thefield commerciallyzif the information ,obtained indicates. .that :commercial exploitation-id's feasible.v Even.f-if-.1oil ih..COmr m'ercial quantity. is found by such exploratory drilling, .itis contemplated that thewell would not lbepro'duced, but would be plugged. @It .is therefore. the principal object of. this'inventionto .provide .well drilling apparatus suitable for'drilling exploratory wells below a body ofiwater. ;I l I Another object of this invention is to provide wellvdrilling apparatus including the. framework adapted to. reston" bottom and .toextendupwardly .above the, water level, the framework having ,a plurality of vertical .tubular members eachiof. which receives a plunger in telescopic relation. j The plungers are rigidly connected at their upperends by a cross head which is adapted O JeQt 'rther of" th's mvention are leliniinates therequirement a on 'm and 0 ng 1947;, seriarNo. 757,537. 6 1 .1;

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n lrq a mas i fi semb y J8.- 5S ch ne maybe q 'an suitabl r b1. commercial. type and is provided;;with; a rime. mo er .at r e t Many ,,d t d.;. .peed-i The prime mover l9mayedvantageouslytake the form ,of -a :direct currentpmotor; W Atthe. upper; end ;of.' each.,o.f.= theLtubula mem bers. llti's provided-a;sealingldevice- 20 cwlhich mayshe oft-any suitable;lorzdesirabletype. E," The purpose; of; thersealingidevice 20;;is-itoi establish aQfluid-tight seal between l theetubular .iiiembers l l and pplunger elements \2 l swhich. are. telescop icallyreceivedwithin the-upper; ends .of themembars-.1?! Thersealin edevice .20; as ..s.h0wn'.-..-in F ur ;-f-i c1udes.; arthread dirin izizzcpnnected q-thempperensi 0i; eaqh. m mber-H ndrar y: i ti d mab se in elemen al i e nd te dnthat a e her ui a or... .rab t n. e r t fi n employed-at this'position 1fv desired members Hand are rigidly joinedat-the upper that the cross head joins each of the parallel plunger 'members2l so that they operate as a single unit," hereinafter designated as the carrier 21.

Means are provided for raising and lowering the carrier 2'! with respect to the structural framework II, and, as shown in Figure 5, this means includes a dam 28 positionedwithin each of the tubular members H nearthe'lower end thereof to define a fluid chamber 29 within each of the tubular members above the location of the dam 28. One or more side connections 33 is provided to communicate with each of the chambers 29. Fluid under pressure is introducedinto each of thechamberS-ZS to raise-the plunger element 2|, --A cap 31 may be threaded over thelow'er end of each of the plunger elements zl to prevent escape of pressure fluid upw'a'r'dly' through the interior thereof. The cap 3! is provided with aseries' of fiute's-orbearing pads 32 which contact the inner wall of the tubular members H and thus serve to align the lower ends of the plunger elements 2| while permitting flow of pressure fluid into the lower end of the chambers 29. As shown in Figure 5, the introduction of pressure fluid into the side fitting 30 causes pressure to be applied below the plunger element 'ZIQtherebyraising the plunger element 2! with respect to the tubular member II. If desired, a second connection fitting can be provided'for'discharge of pressure fluid from the chamber 29 or the same fittings-30 may be' utilized for thisjpurpose- -In*any event, a common supply source for pressure fluid "is provided and eachofthetubularmembers l l is connected to this supply so that-an equal force is applied at the lower 'end of eachof the plunger elements 2|; When=it is desired to lower the carrier- 21,

pressure fluid is exhausted from the-chambers 29 and the carrier descends by gravity.

-Meansare provided fd supplying pressure fluid to the chambers i 29,-and, as shown in the drawing, this means includes a-power driven oil pump 33 mounted withinan-enclosure 34 positioned at the fa'r'end 'of'a floating'barge 35. Pressure fluid ispumped through conduits, not shown; to' connect with thein'let hose 36 which leads to a distributingsystem;not shown, carryingpressure fluid "to iea'ch of the chambers 29.

A hose '36 is provided te'permit the barge to move with the tide while the structural framework lflreina'ins stationary. A valve 31' is shown connected with the hose 36 and this valve may be used to regulate thesupply of fluid to'the chambers 29. The valve 31 is "represented diagrammaticallyonly, and, i if desired, may be positioned within the control house 38 mounted on the structural framework near the upper end thereof; A-footramp 39 may be conveniently L provided between the control" house 38 and the barge 35. A feturnshose-31isshowniand the purpose of this' hose is "to return fluid i from the chambers '29 to the pump 33 mounted: on the barge. "A hydraulic accumulator,- not shown; maybe provided in conjunction=with the pump 33' in'order that -an -adequate-=siipply' of pressure fluid may--be maintained at all times-so that merely by 'adjusting' thie -inletcontrol valve 31' and discharge control valve4ll' inthe return hose 31, the position of the carrier 21with respect-to the framework ill I may be accurately regulated and controlledffl 4" -A- drill 's'tring generally designated-'4l issu'sf pended from-the hydraulidrotaryswivel and this in turn is pendently supported from the cross head structure 24 by any convenient means such as, for example, the conventional elevator links 43 and connector piece 44. The uppermost section of the drill stringis a kelly 45 which is non-circular in external configuration and which extends through drive bushings, not shown, provided in the rotary table l8 as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. The lower sections ofthe drill string 4| are composed of drill pipe of the type shown in the pipe rack carried on the barge 35. The drill string extends downwardly through the rotary machine and through a relatively large diameter conductor pipe 41 which carries a shoe 48 in its lower end extending intolthe bottom I5. A bit, not shown, is provided on the lower end of the drill string 4!. The conductor pipe 4'! extends through a guide ring 49 positioned centrally of the structural framework ID by means of the horizontal struts l3. Mud fluid is delivered into the drill string through the hydraulic rotary swivel 42 and this mud fluid is delivered through a conventional mud'hose 50 connected at one end to the swivel '42 and at the other end to a mud conduit, not shown, extending lengthwise of the barge 35. A mud pump of any conventional type, not'shown, is positioned within the en'- closure 34 and adapted to deliver mud fluid under pressure through such conduit into the hose 50. The mud fluid travels downwardly through the interior of the drill string 4! and returns upwardly through the drilled hole around the drill string into the conductor pipe 41. A lateral outlet 5'l:is provided on the conductor pipe- 41 justbelow the rotary machine l8 and this outframework lil'and carrier-21 in its retracted posie tion is such that'it maybe supported on the barge 35. When theidesired location is reached, anchorlinesv are-extended fromv each end of the barge 35'to maintainitlin the desired position. A winch 55 within the enclosure 34 is then used in conjunction with floating cranes, not shown, to move the structural framework In from the position illustrated in Figure 1 to the position illustrated in Figure 2. A roller 51 is-provided, on the'endrof the barge 35 to facilitate this operation. The pointed feet [4 project into the \bottom 15 by reason ofv the weight of the structural framework) andcarrier 21 and the shoe-t48 o'n the lowersendof' the conductor pipe A uting system forxintroducing'and withdrawing fluid under pressure from the chambers '29 with-. in the upper endsaofthe longitudinal members I l'. ,The mud hoses 50 and 52 are also connected f O -U 1- le ctric able 58 i tend from the barge in orderthat the motor 'lsifor driving the rotar'y tableldmay be driven from the generator 59 provided within the barge "en closure 3 4;.1' Suitable control 'means for-{regulat motor I 9 are notjshown but i i heg ed f t 7 a be p videdw tnin the" control ho'use"38 Guy. wires 60 extendfrom the upper-"end of the structural framework to anchors, not shown, which are imbedded in the bottom [5, and, in order that equal tension may be maintained in the guy wires 69, suitable tie-down devices 6! may be provided on the upper end of the structural framework l0.

A crane 62 is then positioned on the barge for the purpose of transporting the individual pipe sections from the rack 46 into position below the cross head structure 24 in order that they may be'added into the drill string as the hole is deepened. The rotary machine is operated to turn the drill string 4| and the carrier 21 is lowcred gradually to permit the bit, not shown, to deepen the drilled hole. When the cross head 24 approaches the upper end of the structural framework IO, the rotation of the rotary machine I8 is interrupted and the carrier 21 is lifted to its extended position as shown in Figure 3. The crane 62 is then utilized to transfer a section of drill pipe from the rack 46 and this section is connected into the drill string below the kelly 45. The string is then lowered to bring the bit into contact with the bottom of the hole, the rotary machine is started, mud fluid is delivered into the drill string and the drilling proceeds in the conventional manner. When it is desired to withdraw the drill string from the hole for the purpose of changing the bit or for any other reason, the rotary machine is maintained stationary and the carrier 27 F is raised in order that the drill string may be withdrawn from the hole section by section. The crane 62 is employed to move each section of the drill string when removed and store it on the pipe rack 46.

After the well has been completed, it may be plugged by any conventional cementing process well known in the art. The hoses are then disconnected and the winch '56 employed in con-. nection with floating cranes, not shown, to lift the structural framework [0 and carrier 27 back on the floating barge 35 as shown in Figure 1. The barge may then be towed to a new location in order to drill another well.

It will be observed that the requirement of a conventional derrick above water level has been eliminated. Instead of storing drill pipe on and within the derrick in accordance with conventional practice when coming in or going out of the hole, the pipe is stacked in horizontal position on the drilling barge 35. Furthermore, the conventional drawworks is not employed, and instead the carrier 21 which is hydraulically operated is used for raising and lowering the drill string 4|. By means of these important differences from conventional drilling practice a lightweight portable drilling unit is provided and the problem of bracing the tall derrick structure against wind loads is eliminated;

Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the details herein set forth, but my invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device for drilling a well under a body of water, the combination of a structural framework adapted to rest on water-covered bottom and to extend upwardly above the water level, a rotary machine fixed on the upper portion of the framework, said framework including a plurality of parallel load supporting vertical tubular members, a plurality of parallel plunger elements each adapted to be received within the upper end of one of said tubular members in telescopic relation, a crosshead above the rotary machine rigidly connected to the upper portion of each of said plunger elements, the cross-head and plunger elements comprising a free-standing unitary carrier movable vertically with respect to the structural framework and thereby varying the over-all height of the device above the water level, a hydraulic rotary swivel pendently suspended from the crosshead for supporting a rotary drill string extendingthrough the rotary machine, and hydraulic means whereby fluid under pressure may be introduced into said tubular members to lift the plunger elements simultaneously and thereby raise the unitary carrier and hydraulic rotary swivel relative to the rotary machine.

' 2. In a device for drilling a well under a body of Water, the combination of: a structural framework adapted to rest on water-covered bottom and to extend upwardly above the water level, a rotary machine fixed on the upper portion of the framework, the framework including four parallel load supporting vertical. tubular members resting on bottom and defining the outer boundaries of said framework, four parallel plunger elements each adapted to be received within the upper end of one of said tubular members in telescopic relation, a crosshead rigidly connected to the upper portion of each of said plunger elements above the rotary machine, the crosshead and plunger elements comprising a free-standing unitary carrier movable vertically with respect to the structural framework and thereby varying the over-all height of the device above the water level, a hydraulic rotary swivel pendently suspended from the crosshead for supporting a rotary drill string extending through the rotary machine, and hydraulic means whereby fluid under pressure may be introduced into said tubular members to lift the plunger elements simultaneously and thereby raise the unitary carrier and hydraulic rotary swivel relative to the rotary machine.

WILLIAM J. TRAVERS, J R.

REFERENCE S CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 89,794 Rowland May 4, 1869 1,517,556 Grant Dec. 2, 1924 1,790,913 Grau et a1. Feb. 3, 1931 1,879,929 Fortune Sept. 27, 1932 1,904,256 Sheldon Apr. 18, 1933 2,171,672 Plummer Sept. 5, 1939 2,187,871 Vorhees Jan. 23, 1940 2,240,794 Mason May 6, 1941 2,422,168 Kirby June 10, 1947 2,472,869 Travers, Jr June 14, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 160,865 Great Britain Apr. '7, 1921 

